Theresa May, the Home Secretary, withdrew funding to combat terrorism in the
area where Drummer Lee Rigby was murdered, because it was deemed at low risk
of extremism, it has emerged.

The London borough of Greenwich, where Drummer Rigby was hacked to death as he returned to his Army barracks last Wednesday, lost its financial support for anti-extremist measures after a risk assessment carried out by the Office for Security and Counter Terrorism.

Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale after they attacked Ian Rigby in Woolwich

Among the projects cut was a programme which brought together young people aged 14 to 19 with Muslim soldiers, Gurkha warriors and veterans of World War Two, according to The Times (£).

Greenwich, home to Michael Adebowale, who has been charged with Drummer Rigby's murder, was originally part of the Government's Prevent strategy and received more than £500,000 during the first four years of the programme.

Most of the money went into a race equality programme organised through Charlton Athletic Football Club and to sports and arts projects designed to "promote cohesion and increase community resilience to radicalisation".

However, the borough was not part of a revised list of 25 areas selected on the perceived threat of terrorism and its anti-terror funding was cut for a year.

Although Greenwich was once again placed on the list a year later, the project has so far failed to provide finance for young people in the area.

The council said funding was withdrawn because the Government "did not consider that the intelligence warranted Greenwich being named a priority area."

A Home Office spokesman said: "Over two years, the Government has made £3 million available annually for Prevent work in priority areas. We work closely with local authorities in these areas to engage with faith institutions, civil society groups and others, to tackle the radicalisation of vulnerable people."